“The Federal Communications Commission voted to expand a subsidy program for low-income families to include Internet service on Thursday,” Abigail Tracy reports for Forbes. “The 3-2 FCC vote on Thursday did not increase the monthly subsidy amount families will receive [$9.25/mo.], but simply added Internet to the list of services the program will cover.”

“Dubbed the ‘Obamaphones’ program by critics, the subsidy system came under fire back in 2012 when it was learned that ineligible Americans were taking advantage of the program,” Tracy reports. “The cost of the Lifeline program — which has been estimated to cost the government nearly $2 billion a year — and the fact that its is paid for by consumers have also added fuel to the debate over the program.”

Read more in the full article here.

MacDailyNews Note: $2 billion annually divided by $118.80 ($9.95×12 months) = over 16.8 million families receiving subsidies via the Lifeline program.

[Thanks to MacDailyNews readers too numerous to mention individually for the heads up.]

SEE ALSO:

U.S. FCC proposes taxpayer-funded broadband Internet subsidy for low-income users – May 28, 2015
Reporter issued 3 free ‘Obamaphones,’ courtesy of U.S. taxpayers – August 1, 2013